Method of manufacturing nozzle diaphragms, turbine wheels, and the like



y 1929. E. D. DICKINSON 1,713, 73

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING NOZZLE DIAPHRAGMS,

TURBINE WHEELS, AfiD THE LIKE Filed March 9, 192'! Edgar-.22 .D/bK/mon,

' a ttorney.

jnvenol: I

Patented May 14, "1929.

- UNITED STATES I 1,713,173 PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR D. DICKINSON, or BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To GENERAL EL C- TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEw YORK. 7

METHOD or MANUFACTURING NozzLE DIAIE'HRAGMS, TURBINE WHEELS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed Marchl), 1927. Serial No. 174.050.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of articles comprising a plurality of partition members arranged and held between two holding members, and is particularlyapplicable to the manufacture of turbine diaphragms and turbine wheels, although it is not necessarily limited thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method whereby such articles can be manufactured at a low cost but at the same time with a high degree of accuracy,

and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is dirooted to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view illustrating parts used in carrying out my invention; Fig. 2' is a development of a sectional view through the nozzle partition members shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is. a top plan view partly broken away of the parts shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a radial, sectional view on a larger scale.

In carrying out my invention in'connection with the manufacture of a nozzle diaphragm for elastic fluid turbines, I provide a base plate 5 which forms a fixture for use in carrying outmy invention, and an inner ring 6, an outer ring 7 and a suitable num- 3o ber of nozzle partitions 8 which form the nozzle diaphragm. Baseplate 5 is circular and is provided with an annular raised portion 9 on its top face, having a flat top surface of a width equal substantially to the length of the nozzle partitions and an inner diameter such that inner ring 6 fits inside of it. The annular raised portion is'of a height such that it serves to correctly po sition the discharge edges 10 of the partition members 8. The partition members 8 may have perfectly smooth ends and hence may be cut from strips of stock of the desired cross section, which strips may be made by drawing the strip material through suitable dies. This means that the partition members may be manufactured at a low cost.

I provide the inner ring member 6 in its peripheral face with a series of circumferentially-spaced holes 11 adapted to receive pins 12, the holes being spaced apart so as to position correctly the admission ends of the partition members 8 relatively to each other. Also, I provide the partition membrazing, soldering or thelike.

bers-8 in one end with. holes 13 adaptedto rece ve pins 12.

In assembling the structure, I first place inner ring 6 on base plate 5 as shown in Fig. 1, after which I assemble around it the partition members 8, each partition member bcmg supported at what is then its upper end by a pin 12, the discharge ends 10 of the nozzle partitions resting on raised portion 9; The partition members are assembled entirely around inner ring 6. This assembling operation can be carried out quickly and with relatively unskilled labor since the nozzle partitions are definitely positioned by pins 12 and the top surface of raised portions 9. In this connection, I consider the use of a flat surface, such as the surface of raised member 9, for positioning the edges 10' of the nozzle partitions as being a partieu larly advantageous feature of my invention, since it provides a very simple and easy means for getting'all the edges evenand correctly spaced- Pins 12 fit tightly enough inholes 11 and 13 to hold the members 9, but

base plate 5, and the rings 6 and? and they partition members are then permanently united by fusion of metal, as by welding, v Any suitable method of uniting by fusion of metal may be employed, but preferably I employ the method disclosed in. the patent to Steenstrup, No. 1,528,581, Patented March 3, 1925.

After, the structure has been united by "fusion of metal it may be then' finished to the desired contour. In the present instance, the ring member 6 forms the web or central portion of a nozzle diaphragm and the ring member 7 forms the rim of a nozzle diaphragm.

The application of my invention to the manufacture of bucket wheels for turbines and other similar structures will be under stood readily from the foregoing description. In the ease of turbine wheels, fluid-directing elements in the form of buckets will replace the fluid-directing elements in the form of nozzle partitions in the structure described.

It will be seen that by the use of my invention I am enabled to use fluiddirecting elements, that is, turbine nozzle partitions or the like, which require no special shaping or finishing on the ends; andthat, likewise,

I can utilize inner ring members and outer ring members requiring no specially shaped finishing. This reduces very materially the cost of manufacture. .At the same time, however, a strong and accurately dimensioned product will result.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the particular method which I now consider to represent the bestmanner for carrying it out, but I desire to have it understood that the particular method disclosed is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out with such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. P

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The method of manufacturinga structure comprising a plurality of partition elements held between two annular carrying members which comprises placing the inner annular carrying member on a base plate,

ssembling partition elements individually in spaced relation around the periphery of said inner carrying member with their lower edges resting on the base plate to position them correctly angularly, and then shrinle ing the outer annular carrying member around the outer ends of the partition elements.

2. The method of manufacturing a struc ture comprising a plurality of partition elements held between. two annular carrying members which comprises placing the inner annular carrying member on a base plate, assembling partition elements individually in' spaced relation around the periphery of said inner carrying member by supporting ner annular carrying member on abase plate, assembling partition elements individually in spaced relation around the periphery of said inner carrying member with their lower edges resting on the base plate to position them correctly angularly, shrinking the outer annular carrying member around the outer ends of the partition elements, and then removing the structure from the plate and uniting it permanently by fusion of metal.

4. The method of manufacturing a structure comprising a plurality of partition elements held between two annular carrying members which comprises placing the inner annular carrying member on a base plate, assembling partition elements individually in spaced relation around the periphery of said inner carrying memberrby supporting their upper edges on pins, the lower edges resting on the base plate to position them correctly angularly, shrinking the enter an nular carrying member around the outer ends of the partition elements, and then removing the structure from the baseplate and uniting it permanently by fusion of metal.

The method of manufacturing a nozzle diaphragm which comprises placing an in- 

